◼ White House aides say President Obama was taken aback by coverage of his inaugural address and doesn't want a similar reaction this time around. - Ron Fournier/The Atlantic
White House officials tell me they feel stung by coverage of the inaugural address. Reporters highlighted the president's left-leaning stances on immigration, gun control, climate change, and gay and women's rights. Obama's aides argue that he devoted more inaugural address language to the economy, jobs, and the deficit than all other issues combined.
Still, the perception remains that Obama lost focus on the economy -- the top issue in the minds of most voters.
◼ After ignoring unemployment, Obama seeks to convince Americans it’s his top priority - Byron York/Washington Examiner @ByronYork
White House spinners are working furiously in the final 72 hours before President Obama’s State of the Union speech. Their job: convince the recession-scarred American public that economic recovery is Obama’s top priority — after everything he has said and done to suggest otherwise....
◼ Six Obama pivots to jobs and the economy - Byron York/Washington Examiner @ByronYork
That’s nothing new for Obama. Throughout his term, as he concentrated on policy initiatives, like passing a national health care scheme, that were not centered on jobs and the economy, the president and his aides have promised to “pivot” back to the public’s number-one concern. This is just one more time.
◼ Obama to pivot back to the economy (Washington Post, February 10, 2013)
◼ President Obama pivots to jobs — and dares GOP to follow (Politico, September 8, 2011)
◼ After bruising debt battle, Obama pivots to jobs agenda (Agence France Presse, August 3, 2011)
◼ Obama pivots to pocketbook (Baltimore Sun, May 7, 2011)
◼ Obama pivots to job creation (San Francisco Chronicle, January 28, 2010)
◼ Obama pivots to the economy and jobs (Christian Science Monitor, January 8, 2010)
